February 9, 2006

Bloom still has one eye on NFL

TURIN (Reuters) - U.S. freestyle skier Jeremy Bloom is
already thinking of landing a place in the NFL despite the
prospect of a Winter Olympic gold in the meantime.

Bloom, a top medal contender in the men's moguls next
Wednesday, will go straight from the Turin Games to the NFL
Combine, a training program where top scouts hunt for talent.

"I just got my official invite. I arrive February 22 and
have a three-day testing process in Indianapolis. I will fly
direct from here," the 23-year-old told a news conference on
Thursday.

Bloom played for two years at Colorado University but was
forced to quit because of a National Collegiate Athletic
Association (NCAA) regulation that prohibited him from
accepting ski-related sponsorship money while playing football.

"I look forward to immediately after this putting my heart
and soul into something that was taken from me," the kick
returner said.